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Captain Star Conliffe with most of her ‘awesome’ pre-school ministry team. The Australia Territory has more than 30 Aussie officers serving overseas. In an ongoing series, Global Focus is featuring many of these officers – who they are, where they’re serving, the joys and challenges they face and what life looks like for them in their unique corners of The Salvation Army world. This week, CAPTAIN STAR CONLIFFE shares the beginning of her family’s new journey in South Korea Two months ago, our family arrived in South Korea for a three-year international appointment. We are the Assistant Corps Officers at Daejeon Central Corps, a church of about 300 people in a large city in the centre of Korea. At the corps, I have primary responsibility for children’s ministry (ages 0-13), and my husband Charlie (Jung) looks after youth and young adults ministry. Charlie was born in South Korea , and I lived there 20 years ago as an exchange student, so we both speak the language, and the location makes perfect sense. But while this move to Korea is, in some sense, a homecoming.    Captain Charlie with his young adults group. The sign in the background says ‘Welcome Captain Jeong (Jung)!’ Changing places In many ways, Charlie and I have swapped places because I am now a foreigner in an unfamiliar culture. And I have learned that life as a migrant is tenuous. My place in Korean society feels insecure, even though I have a permanent visa. There are so many unspoken rules or ‘common sense’ expectations that can take a migrant by surprise. Even though I understand Korean culture better than most foreigners (after being married to a Korean for 17 years), I often need to ask Charlie to interpret people’s behaviour. And a few times, I’ve broken unspoken rules simply out of ignorance – this has been a learning experience for both for me and my colleagues!  Thankfully, the corps has been understanding towards us both as we settle into a very different way of doing ministry. Most local corps do not have any welfare services on site – no food relief, case management or programs for local families in need. The Salvation Army in Korea, therefore, has a smaller social work footprint than in Australia, but it does run women’s shelters, aged care services and orphanages in most cities.   As a whole, The Salvation Army is not well-known in Korea, despite their important work with vulnerable people. For us, this means that instead of juggling welfare and corps activities, our weekly routine centres around preparing for all the church services we have each week (usually about five) and doing administration and pastoral care. Focus on youth The family at a recent divisional youth outing. Our focus is on programs for young people in the church and it’s a special joy to work with the volunteer ministry leaders who are so dedicated to caring for the corps’ children. Many of these leaders are young adults who give a few hours of their time each week.   That’s one of the biggest cultural differences I’ve seen so far – in Korea, all congregation members happily volunteer to run church programs, and most young adults continue to attend church, sometimes even staying at church all day Sunday. In Australia, we lose so many of our teens and young adults from the congregation. And it’s easier to get people to volunteer for welfare programs (like the soup van, for example), which don’t even exist here.   The Daejeon Central Corps. However, we’ve recently been having some exciting conversations with young people in our congregation who want to do more to help those in need in Daejeon (for example, for people experiencing homelessness), but they just don’t know where to start.   I know ministry will be an ongoing challenge, given all the cultural differences that we need to navigate, but I’m optimistic about all the possibilities for loving and serving others that we’re going to discover together over the next three years.

Major Brendan Nottle says rough sleepers should be seen as human beings, not as a problem.  (Background image: Jon Tyson on Unsplash) BY LERISSE SMITH Homelessness should not be criminalised. That’s the strong message from Salvos Melbourne Project 614 Team Leader Major Brendan Nottle, who has spoken out against a City of Port Phillip proposal to fine rough sleepers in the community. “Rather than viewing them as a problem, they need to actually see rough sleepers as human beings,” he says. “And rather than knee-jerk reactions such as considering proposals to fine people for being homeless and therefore criminalising homelessness, what we would encourage councils to do, and other forms of government, too, is to actually engage with the services that are on the ground working with rough sleepers and together form a response. Knee-jerk responses never work. All they do when we engage in that sort of behaviour is cause more angst and more issues.” The City of Port Phillip recently put through a motion to investigate changing local laws to prohibit people from sleeping rough on council land, roads or footpaths. Under the proposed laws, infringement notices could be issued to those who breach them. Brendan said The Salvation Army had an obligation to speak up and speak out on behalf of the voiceless when hearing proposals such as the council’s. And he had a direct message for any council or government. “Think very carefully about these sorts of suggestions or these sorts of proposals of fining people that are extremely vulnerable,” he says. Melbourne Project 614 Team Leader Major Brendan Nottle has spoken out against a City of Port Phillip proposal to consider fining rough sleepers in the community. “Because it was Socrates who said that societies will be judged by the way they treat their most vulnerable. I think he would have a very dim view of societies, of communities, of local state or federal governments, that fine people for their disadvantage because, in fact, what it is doing is criminalising homelessness.” Additionally, the concern about fining people for rough sleeping or giving out a transport fine to the vulnerable was that it would never be paid. This often led to court appearances, warrants for arrest, and further hardship, leaving the person’s life literally on hold as they became worried they would be found out and locked up for a transport fine or minor offending. As a result, Brendan said they avoided seeking support and did not share their details because they did not know who to trust, making it harder for them to get the help they needed. Listening to people who are rough sleeping is critically important, he added, as their experiences may differ from the assumptions policymakers make about the solutions they need. “When we actually sit with people with sleeping rough, they may well give us a very different response to the one that we’re thinking is the correct path to go,” he explained. “Our encouragement would be for councils to work with services, to work with those that are rough-sleeping and together, try and come up with a response which is compassionate and caring and which will actually hopefully deliver a positive outcome. “It’s so critically important that we actually take time to listen and then allow rough sleepers to actually speak into policy development, rather than us imposing policies on them.”   “People who are facing disadvantage and vulnerability do not need our judgment, and they certainly do not need our fines. What they need is our compassion and our care and our understanding.” – Major Brendan Nottle   Some people tell the Salvos that they need help with their mental health or addiction issues as their primary concern, rather than needing a roof over their head at this stage, since they feel unable to maintain it. Brendan remarked that often, accommodation is secured merely to tick a box rather than invest in addressing the root causes of homelessness. Consequently, individuals tend to cycle back into homelessness, making it more challenging to approach them in future attempts to help them find a place to stay, as they have already tried and found it unsuccessful. “It’s simply because we didn’t take the time to listen and to actually address the drivers for their homelessness,” Brendan reflects. “It’s about being respectful and actually saying to all human beings, regardless of whether they are homeless or dealing with complex mental health issues, I want to listen to you. It may not be easy for them to articulate what’s best for them. May not be easy for us to listen. But I think it is so critically important the consumer or customer, if you want to call them that, are actually the ones that drive and shape policy rather than having them being imposed on them by people who are sitting in an office.” Major Brendan Nottle says rough sleepers need our compassion, care and understanding. (Photos: Jon Tyson (left and centre) and Clay LeConey on Unsplash) Lack of communication The City of Port Phillip did not consult Brendan about its proposal despite his extensive experience working with rough sleepers in Melbourne. He noted the lack of communication was a key issue, as he understood another part of Port Phillip Council was looking at implementing a policy that would place all of the resources necessary so rough sleepers could actually have access to not only housing but also the supports they needed to help them get back on their feet. “There seem to be two parts of council working in opposition to each other,” he said. “As a city in Melbourne and as a state, I think we’ve historically as a nation made sure that we have looked out for the outsider. We have always made sure that we are a society that has looked out for the most vulnerable. And the danger with this sort of proposal is that it actually says to certain groups of people, ‘You are not welcome in certain parts of our city or certain parts of our neighbourhood’, and that’s not who we are as Melbournians, Victorians or Australians. We have never been that way historically, and we should never be that way in the future.” Brendan emphasised that it was vitally important to remember that God's favoured people were the most vulnerable and, therefore, they had historically been the favoured people of The Salvation Army. (Photo: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash) “We need to make sure they continue to be, and not only are they the favoured people of God, that they are a voiceless people,” he says. “The Salvation Army is called to be a movement that is the voice for the voiceless.” And after many years of working supporting and caring for rough sleepers, Brendan has a key message for the public as to why they find themselves sleeping on the streets. “A person that is rough-sleeping or a person that is dealing with some vulnerability in their life are a human being, just like all of us, and they need to be treated as such,” he emphasises. “People who are facing disadvantage and vulnerability do not need our judgment, and they certainly do not need our fines. What they need is our compassion and our care and our understanding.”

Even though almost 2 in 10 people in the world may be neurodivergent, the world isn’t exactly designed for those who think differently to others, writes Anthony Castle. BY ANTHONY CASTLE   We can all think differently. Everyone can have their own ideas and reactions, their own opinions about things like food or sports. While this may cause disagreement, these differences are important and express the diversity of our identities. Some of us can think differently for other reasons though, due to genetics or events. Rather than just a difference in opinion or background, some of us may have brains that are wired in less common ways. The term we use to describe these differences among people is neurodiversity. Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of human brains and minds. Just as everyone’s bodies are different, there can be infinite variation in our minds too. While everyone is part of humanity’s neurodiversity, the term neurodivergent refers to those whose brains function in ways that diverge significantly from common expectations or societal norms. “My entire life has been spent trying to make sense of things, of what people are saying, what they want, why they treat you the way they do. It felt like everyone else was given a rulebook for life I never saw. So much of my life has been spent anxious, afraid, and unsure of what to do.” - A contributor with autism Range of differences We can hear the term neurodivergence and maybe think of things like autism and attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Some may only hear those terms applied to children or school students, but neurodivergence includes a range of experiences shared by people of any age and any background. Neurodivergence can encompass any difference in someone’s neurocognitive function and mental health, such as general anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, dyslexia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mood disorders, conditions, and intellectual disabilities.   Someone can be born with a neurodivergent mind, like with autism or ADHD. Alternatively, it can be from circumstance, age, or event, like with PTSD, dementia, or acquired intellectual disability. About 15-20 per cent of the world's population shows signs of neurodivergence, with these differences much more common than many may realise. “My neurodivergence is acquired due to PTSD rather than something that’s always been present. I’m sick of people telling me I have ADHD, for example, because there are lots of crossovers between ADHD and the way my PTSD has changed my brain and caused it to function. But I wasn’t like that as a child or young adult; it’s because of trauma, and when people assume to know more about it than I do, [it] is unhelpful.” - A contributor with PTSD   Low priority Even though almost 2 in 10 people in the world may be neurodivergent, the world isn’t exactly designed for those who think differently from others. Schools, workplaces, faith communities and community groups are often designed for the most common and dominant ways of thinking. People who aren’t neurodivergent, whose minds work within the common expectations, are described as neurotypical, and much of the world is built with neurotypical people as the priority.   In fact, neurodivergence is rarely the priority when things are being designed. For some neurotypical people, the different traits and expressions of neurodivergence can make them uncomfortable. A difference in thinking, feeling, and acting can also be seen as a weakness or antisocial behaviour. This ignorance of how minds and brains can function results in neurodivergent people being excluded from the world as it is designed. Neurodivergent people have lower school participation and educational attainment, greater levels of unemployment and underemployment, and poorer physical health. “I have borderline personality disorder. When a BPD person is splitting, they may distort how they see things. One moment, they feel good, and the next, they feel low. One moment, they feel loved, and the next, they feel unwanted or abandoned. It’s like, you start to recognise when your personality isn’t really yours anymore, and it takes antipsychotics to control the severe mood issues.” - A contributor with BPD   Inclusion benefits everyone This ignorance results in a society that not only excludes neurodivergent people but ultimately disadvantages everyone. While some neurodivergent people may refer to their difference as a disadvantage or a disability, they may also describe it as a strength or a gift. For some, they may feel both things simultaneously. Regardless, many do not refer to their neurodivergence as a condition or a diagnosis but as an important part of their identity and part of how they connect with the world.   The ways that neurodivergent minds connect with the world have created so much of society’s technology, art, literature and music. Neurodivergent people are a part of humanity’s joy, spirituality and vulnerability. Rather than a weakness, these differences have value for everyone. “Sometimes my ADHD is super helpful. I’m sure it’s got a lot to do with why I’ve been successful in my work, but there are a whole bunch of things connected to my neurodivergence that aren’t fun, or easy, or a ‘superpower’, and that very much get in the way of me doing things that I WANT to do.” - A contributor with ADHD   There is a different world possible, one with more knowledge and expression, more humour and kindness. As long as our world is built for neurotypical people alone, unless we change the expectations and norms in our society, the value of neurodivergent people won’t be fully shared. We can all think differently, but unless we start to grow wiser about inclusion, our world will remain a poorer place. You can read The Salvation Army’s Inclusion Statement here .

To read Henk’s Promoted to Glory notice, click here

In this ‘God Defining Moment’, Major Gavin Watts reflects on how conversations about Jesus can happen anywhere. Sometimes, these are in the most unlikely of places –even chook sheds. When the Holy Spirit intervenes, and people want to know about Jesus’ forgiveness, there is no standing in His way.

Manly Salvos Mission Leader Malcolm Smith speaks at the launch of the newly renovated corps building.   BY LAUREN MARTIN   A small renovation to Manly Corps on Sydney’s Northern Beaches has opened up the ministry space and allowed for greater community connection.   Manly Salvos Mission Leader Malcolm Smith and Ministry Assistant Diana Aitken have created an open, welcoming space at the Manly Corps hall, encouraging community members to stay longer and invest more deeply in their relationships with each other and The Salvation Army.  A new window at the front of Manly Salvos allows passers-by to look in and see community meals and activities taking place. Manly Salvos has long been a welcoming, safe space where people can have a meal, receive assistance, and connect with Jesus through small groups and a weekly chapel service. Over the summer, a big vision and a few small building works refreshed the location, and the locals love it!   Meals are now served and eaten at the front of the building, with an extra window to the street allowing passers-by to look in and see what’s happening. Extended hours now mean that, after breakfast, community members often stay at the centre until lunch. And, it’s in those ‘in-between’ moments that Malcolm and Diana say is where the Holy Spirit is moving.   “The new space has carpet, it’s a bit bigger, and it’s more inviting,” says Malcolm, with Diana adding: “You can have intimate conversations, but no one else needs to hear it … we’re also creating a book nook with comfy chairs.”   A Men’s Hope Group has started on Tuesdays between breakfast and lunch, and Diana is planning to start a Women’s Hope Group or something centred around craft. “We have had comments where people are saying that this place is their home, that we are their family.” After a public relaunch of the space in early February, the ministry team at Manly have been inundated with people from the community wanting to connect and partner with them. “We have taken on 10 new volunteers this year, and we have more waiting to sign up,” says Mal. “It was a great launch with both community members and local leaders gathering in a vibrant and warm place of connection for the community where they can belong, be loved, have conversations, enjoy a meal and learn about Jesus.”   Several community groups want to partner with The Salvation Army and connect with the community in the new space – including a group that can provide light exercise, which Malcolm and Diana say will be perfect for their community members. Comfy chairs, games and the beginnings of a book nook at the recently renovated Manly Corps on Sydney’s northern beaches. “I’m excited about really working on connecting with people,” says Malcolm about the future. “That one-on-one connection and making a spiritual difference in people’s lives.”   Another change that Malcolm and Diana have introduced is moving the weekly chapel service from Sunday nights to Thursday nights, and running it as a ‘café-style’ church. “It’s very informal,” says Malcolm. “We have a basic structure, a talk and a discussion time. We are doing the theme, ‘Is God real?’ and getting great engagement!”   Last year, a visitor to the chapel service approached Diana after the service. He said that during the service, he had a vision of a crack getting wider and wider and water rushing through it. “We do have a crack in our wall,” says Diana. “He was saying, ‘There’s a crack happening, and it’s going to get wider, and the living water of the Holy Spirit is going to rush through here’.   “He must have been on to something because it feels a bit like that right now – God is moving, and we’re just trying to keep up!” In late March, the corps opened its new community connect space moving engagement from the back hall to the street front.   Manly Salvos Mission Leader Malcolm Smith and the newly launched community connect space.

The Salvation Army’s General Manager for Policy and Advocacy, Jennifer Kirkaldy, responds to the federal budget. BY ANTHONY CASTLE   The 2025-26 Budget, the fourth federal budget of the Albanese Labor Government, was handed down on Tuesday, March 25.   Working for justice is at the heart of The Salvation Army's work in Australia and is integral to its ethos, mission and vision. Through advocacy, The Salvation Army influences key decision-makers and those who have the power to implement social policy change.   “Every budget is important,” explains Jennifer Kirkaldy, The Salvation Army’s Manager of Policy and Advocacy. “Unless a policy is budgeted for, it’s just words. This budget is crucial, though, as it is part of an election platform, revealing the priorities of a potential government over the coming years.” “We are concerned that the cost-of-living relief isn’t helping those who need it most.” – Jennifer Kirkaldy   The Salvation Army knows from experience that systems-based advocacy, which addresses the root causes of social problems, can make a huge difference to those experiencing hardship and injustice. This budget will be a springboard for the forthcoming 2025 federal election, and its focus is indicative of the major issues likely to arise during the election campaign.   “We welcome the good measures in this budget, many of which reflect the concerns we saw in the Social Justice Stocktake,” Jennifer says. “They are finding the same issues we are, things like housing, mental health, cost-of-living, and health. This budget is dealing with the same problems but approaching them with different solutions.”   The Salvation Army checked in across the nation through its Social Justice Stocktake in 2024, talking with almost 16,000 Australians across every state and territory and in every electorate. The issues highlighted by respondents as of most concern are housing affordability and homelessness, mental health, financial hardship and inclusion, access to health care, and alcohol and drug misuse. Key items in the federal budget include:   •       ‘Cost-of-living’ measures including:  o   Modest income tax cuts for all taxpayers, and  o   One-off household energy rebates.  •       Significant investments in health including:  o   Measures to incentivise bulk billing, and  o   Lowering of costs of pharmaceuticals.  •      Measures to assist with housing including:  o   Assistance with first home buying,  o   Restrictions on foreign ownership of dwellings, and  o   Incentives for residential construction traineeships.   “Healthcare access is an excellent story, with more for bulk billing and urgent care clinics,” Jennifer says. “There are things for first homeowners and construction, but there isn’t enough on the social and affordable housing we know we need to deliver. There is some more investment for mental health, but we need to address the underlying causes, in terms of financial hardship and inclusion.”   Some key sector recommendations, most notably increasing JobSeeker and Youth Allowance, were not included in the budget.   “There is nothing for Jobseeker, nothing for Youth Allowance,” Jennifer says. “We are concerned that the cost-of-living relief isn’t helping those who need it most. The support is good with utilities and tax relief, but there aren’t targeted measures that help the people The Salvation Army is most worried about. These are targeted towards the middle, but not the margins.”

The Salvation Army is preparing a response following the earthquake in Myanmar last week. Image courtesy Salvation Army World Service office website . The Salvation Army is preparing to respond to the humanitarian crisis that has followed a devastating earthquake in the Sagaing and Mandalay regions, central Myanmar, on Friday 28 March 2025. Just 12 minutes after the first earthquake hit, an aftershock with a magnitude of 6.4 was recorded 18km south of Sagaing. It was the largest earthquake in the country for more than 100 years. At least 1700 people have died, 300 are missing, and more than 3400 people sustained injuries. The death toll is expected to rise, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in Myanmar’s modern history. The country declared a week of mourning from yesterday (Monday 31 March). Millions of people are without power in the SE Asian country of Myanmar following the earthquake. Damaged infrastructure Thousands are displaced without food, water or medicine due to the collapse of hundreds of buildings. Millions of people are without power, and in some places, telephone lines are still down. A Salvation Army officer in Myanmar reports: “The damage is severe, and it has made rescue operations very difficult. Important structures like the 90-year-old Irrawaddy River bridge and highways, including the Mandalay–Yangon route, have been badly damaged. Naypyidaw General Hospital was also destroyed, making it even harder to care for injured victims. “Mandalay Airport is now closed for six months because of the earthquake’s impact, and the main highway to Mandalay is unusable, forcing people to take an older road instead. This situation has slowed rescue and relief efforts, and many people are suffering without basic necessities such as food, clean water and shelter.” The Salvation Army in Myanmar Logistics have made a response difficult, but a Salvation Army relief team will travel to affected areas today, Tuesday, 1 April. The Salvation Army has been present in Myanmar since 1915 , headquartered in Yangon. Some Salvation Army buildings have been impacted by the tremors. The corps in Yeni, 300km south of Mandalay, which is on the same fault line, has been damaged, and Captain Saw Samuel and his family have had to leave their home. The Salvation Army children’s home in Phyu has also been affected. Lieutenant Khin Cherry Soe reports that all children and staff are safe, but there are concerns about the structural safety of the building. More information will be provided as The Salvation Army’s response continues.

Sunshine Corps couple Rhiannon and Dale Nicholls with their beloved boys, Drew and Aidan, who came into the world during a gruelling 10-year journey that led them to parenthood. This is an extraordinary story of resilience, love, and hope – one that will inspire you to never give up, no matter the odds. When Rhiannon and Dale Nicholls fell in love and married, they never imagined the gruelling 10-year journey that would follow in their dream of becoming parents. It was an unrelenting battle, but one they would ultimately win, as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH discovered when she met the remarkable Sunshine Corps couple and their two precious miracles. Are you needing a shot of inspiration? Then Rhiannon and Dale’s story is sure to lift your spirit. As the Melbourne couple cuddle their adored young sons, Drew and Aidan, following Aidan’s recent dedication at Sunshine Corps (Vic.), they can’t help but reflect on the extraordinary path that led them to parenthood. It was a decade-long journey that involved more than $100,000 in medical costs, international medical trips, over 25 fertility treatments, numerous surgeries, debilitating medications, physical and emotional pain, and traumatic experiences … just to name a few. Yet, despite every obstacle, the couple has emerged triumphant, with Aidan’s dedication to celebrating not only their precious baby but also their treasured family of four. “We have gone through so much,” they said. “But the joy of seeing our boys together makes it all worth it.” At their welcoming home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, the Nicholls family radiate love, laughter and happiness. The two little chilled-out brothers are besotted with each other, while special memento books are cherished and frequently enjoyed. The Nicholls family at the dedication of their second child, Aiden, at Sunshine Corps in Melbourne. Riannon’s mother, Alison Platt, former Salvation Army prison chaplain, led the dedication ceremony. Journey to parenthood Their journey to parenthood all began with one single force – love. Rhiannon and Dale met on a blind date. It only took two dates plus a belated overseas Valentine’s Day message for Rhiannon to realise Dale was a ‘keeper.’ Dale wanted to be a dad just as much as Rhiannon wanted to be a mum. On their rather spectacular fifth date, Dale declared to his girlfriend that their son would be called ‘Dale William the Third’. She told him it wouldn’t happen, and years later, Dale still insists he was joking, though Rhiannon doesn’t buy it! Five months into their relationship, they decided to get married and chose their children’s names. “It seemed like everything would come easily to us,” Rhiannon said. “I had a clear plan for my life – university, excellent career, married at 26, my first child at 28, and another after my 30th birthday so I could enjoy the party in between pregnancies. I was raised by a wonderful single mum with the help of my grandparents and, eventually, I got a fantastic stepdad. I imagined being the kind of parent and support they were to me and couldn’t wait to experience that closeness.” Though Rhiannon knew conceiving might be difficult due to a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) at age 15 and endometriosis in her 20s, she was hopeful. Other people with the condition had children, including her aunty. The couple embarked on their first IVF cycle in 2014, with the doctor declaring, “We will get you pregnant within six months.” But they were famous last words. After no less than nine IVF cycles in just two years, which took a huge physical, psychological, and emotional toll on Rhiannon, the doctor informed the couple it was no longer ethical to continue IVF financially and physically and believed it would be too much for Rhiannon’s body. So, he suggested the couple consider egg donors. Help arrived thanks to Rhiannon’s close cousin, Tara, who generously offered donor eggs. However, after several procedures, the transfers were unsuccessful. But then came an unexpected glimmer of hope. The doctor recommended travelling to Barcelona, Spain, where anonymous egg and embryo donors were plentiful. It was a potential breakthrough they so desperately needed. The couple’s subsequent trips in 2017 brought much hope but also challenges. In July 2017, Dale was made redundant, and one Barcelona trip and two Spanish egg donors yielded no success. Yet through it all, Dale and Rhiannon found an inner strength to not give up. Her work advocating for family violence and child protection reform helped her stay focused on the bigger picture, while Dale’s unwavering support never faltered. In December 2017, Dale began a new job. Not wanting to suffer through another painful Christmas of not being a mum, Rhiannon embarked on her second Spanish trip, making a fateful call to her mother: “Do you want to come with me to Barcelona and get pregnant?!,” she recalled. “She said yes!” And Rhiannon had a donor embryo transfer. Christmas 2017 marked a major turning point that redefined their lives.    Rhiannon couldn’t keep Christmas lunch down and two days later took a pregnancy test. Fearing the worst of a negative test, she buried herself in the bed covers. But then Dale glanced at the pregnancy test – and cried out, “Yan (Rhiannon’s nickname) There’s a line!” The couple hugged, ecstatic, as they realised their dream had finally come true. Nine months later, in August 2018, to the tune of Madonna’s Holiday , Drew Nicholls was born via caesarean section. It was an overwhelming experience for the couple. “They held him up for me to see him,” recalls Rhiannon. “Then Dale cut the cord. They placed him on my chest, and for once, my arms didn’t feel empty. This was my baby. I was finally someone’s mum. Your heart just fills up, it just overflows. It was a lot of relief. I felt like we made it.” Dale added: “Whatever happened from that point, we had a baby!” But their parenthood journey was not complete. At 20 weeks pregnant, Rhiannon discovered that the Barcelona fertility clinic still had a full sibling embryo to Drew. However, COVID-19 disrupted their plans, intensifying their desire for the embryo. The couple fought to bring it from Spain to Australia, but their request was denied. Two special miracles and chilled-out brothers, Drew and Aidan, love spending time with each other.  Their Mum and Dad affectionately call them ‘our Barcelona Boys’ after being conceived in Spain with donor embryo transfers. After travel restrictions were lifted in 2022, Rhiannon returned to Spain with her mother, leaving Dale to care for Drew. The couple felt they owed it to their son to get a sibling. It was an “insane trip” filled with many dramas, notwithstanding Alison’s serious fall where she broke both arms after accidentally tripping, and Rhiannon having to undertake 23 taxi trips across Barcelona in one day, to and from the IVF clinic and the hospital where her mother was being treated. More bad news was to come. The Spanish fertility clinic informed Rhiannon the full sibling embryo had not survived thawing. Despite the pain and heartache, Rhiannon decided to go for another transfer. Unfortunately, it was not successful. But a chance meeting with a new coworker with similar experiences was to lead to a second miracle. After consulting Melbourne IVF specialist Dr Lynn Burmeister and another doctor, tests showed Rhiannon was coeliac and could conceive with a gluten-free diet and immune medication using her own eggs. A subsequent embryo transfer ended in a chemical pregnancy, but the specialist remained optimistic, forecasting an 80 per cent chance of success with another trip to Spain. In March 2024, the couple went to Barcelona for another transfer. A few days later, they returned home, and Rhiannon began to feel sick, just like when Drew was conceived. After 10 days, the couple were thrilled – they were pregnant again! Despite Rhiannon suffering carpel tunnel syndrome and bursitis in both feet during her pregnancy, Aidan Joseph Nicolls arrived safely. Rhiannon and Dale on the special day their second son, Aidan, was born. “I physically saw my heart grow bigger,” Rhiannon said. “It was such an intense feeling. It felt complete straight away. It was the most wonderful feeling.” For Dale, another son meant another buddy in the household. Now, with their two adored sons in their arms, Dale and Rhiannon love every minute of parenthood. Nothing is taken for granted. “It’s exhausting, but the best,” Rhiannon remarked. For Dale, he loves being a dad. “The best part is being buddies!” The couple is deeply grateful to their families, the Sunshine Corps community, and the prayers that helped them navigate their eventful journey. They acknowledge that they could not have done it without their emotional support and financial backing from family. And their entire journey has brought them closer too. “We are pretty lucky,” they explained. “We have been really good to each other. And that was that a determination from the start – by both saying to each other, ‘This is going to be tough. We don’t know what the future will hold, but we are just going to stick at it.’ It has brought us much closer as we really leaned on each other. Only we can truly understand what it is really like … trauma will always be there. But it’s less of an impact now.” Little Aidan wore a 160-year-old family heirloom christening gown at his dedication service.  Dale and Rhiannon will also always remember the ‘roller-coaster’ of their journey to parenthood, including the 12 IVF cycles and 15 embryo transfers, along with the heartbreak they felt each time they thought they were pregnant and the difficult task of sharing the news with friends when transfers failed. “The fertility medication makes you feel like you have pregnancy symptoms, and you start to get hope, and then it would all come crashing down,” Rhiannon reflected. “With IVF, you find out how many eggs are collected, and then only so many mature, and then only so many fertilise, and then only so many test well to transfer. So, it’s like, shrink, shrink, shrink every day. It gets less and less.” The emotional and physical toll on Rhiannon was immense, as she suffered from Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome that required hospitalisation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome triggered by anxiety. At one point, Rhiannon even experienced suicidal thoughts due to the overwhelming emotional pain. At another low point, Rhiannon even suggested to Dale, whom she describes as a “wonderful husband and father”, to leave her and find someone who could give him children. But his response was unwavering: he wanted to be with her – children or no children. “He was my rock,” Rhiannon said. “Without him, I would not have made it.” Christmas has now become an incredibly meaningful time for the family, especially after the challenging years Rhiannon faced during the festive season where she longed for children to celebrate the special event. Rhiannon also loves working in politics and Dale in Information Technology. Equally meaningful for the couple is their commitment to being open and honest with their Drew, aged six, and Aidan, 13 weeks, about how they came into the world. They will support their sons and DNA testing if they want to search for siblings in their later years. Rhiannon has even written a heartfelt book to help Drew understand his origins. “These guys were just blueprints in a freezer, and now they have lives, and they have made our family complete,” Rhiannon said. “They are going to do wonderful things and bring light to the world – and affectionately call them our Barcelona Boys!”

Each week throughout 2025 year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week ( 31 March-6 April ] we are praying for the Ghana Territory .   The region is made up of 25,230 senior soldiers, 21 adherents and 5028 junior soldiers. There are 150 corps, 206 outposts, 348 officers (259 active and 89 retired),  27 aux-captains, and 143 employees.   Colonels Janet and Seth Appeateng lead the Ghana Territory.   Pray for Ghana Territory. Please pray for: ·       Good governance to affect good leadership decisions. ·       Self-reliance vision to be embraced by all stakeholders in The Salvation Army - the youth, local officers, board of directors, adherents and soldiers. To adventure into income-generating ventures like setting up a Salvation Army printing press and investments at corps/divisional levels. ·       Raising business leaders to sponsor/support all business activities in the territories. ·       Intentional disciple-making and church planting activities. Through evangelism week, seminars and training, setting dates to send the trained out and declaring mission fields for church planting. ·       A successful women’s congress in West Africa. Please pray for good organisation and participation, travelling mercies and good content. ·       Capacity-building for officers in related fields that will promote and grow the church spiritually, numerically, academically and financially. ·       Protection and documentations of all Salvation Army landed properties and lands. ·       Ability to execute and implement the strategic goals set for sustainability of the Army in Ghana. For more information about the Ghana Territory, click here . To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

A focused competitor in the Cooma Billy Cart Races negotiates the course. Inset: The Salvos were on hand serving cold water throughout the day. Photos: Bryan Bartlett. BY LAUREN MARTIN*   Every February, for the past nine years, the farming community of Cooma in southern NSW pauses for one day from their ‘everyday routine’ to come together for some good, old-fashioned fun. It’s the annual billy cart races, and the Salvos are in the thick of it.   Cooma Corps leader Auxiliary-Lieutenant Bryan Bartlett says the Salvos provide free water and sunscreen to racers, spectators and volunteers, a simple yet meaningful way to care for and connect with those enjoying the event.   Bryan said the Cooma Billy Cart Races have come a long way since their inception nine years ago.   “What began as a small mentoring initiative with just 13 competitors has grown into a beloved community event,” he said. The Salvos gazebo was in the thick of the event at the Cooma Billy Cart Races. As the years have passed, the skill level and speed of the carts has increased. The top speed at the 2025 Cooma Billy Cart Races was an impressive 44km/h!   “The thrill of the race, combined with the cheers of the crowd, created an electric atmosphere that brought the community together in a shared celebration of fun, creativity, and friendly competition,” said Bryan.   He and fellow Corps Leader, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Debbie Bartlett, spent the day supporting, cheering, and chatting while handing out water and sunscreen.   A competitor flies down the hay-lined track. “Events like this allow us to be present in our community, sharing kindness, encouragement, and support in practical ways,” Bryan said. “Whether through a simple conversation, a bottle of water, or just being available to listen, we love showing the heart of Jesus through action.”   He stated that the key message he, Debbie, and their Cooma Salvos volunteers want to convey to the community is that they are here for them – not just on event days, but every day.   “Whether someone needs a helping hand, a listening ear, or a place to turn, we want people to know they are not alone.”   *Extra information supplied by Cooma Corps For more photos, click through the slideshow below:

Eastern Europe Territorial Commander Colonel Richard Borrett says The Salvation Army’s ministry amidst the chaos of war is highly respected throughout Ukraine. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, The Salvation Army has been reaching out to war-affected families and individuals in Ukraine and among refugees in neighbouring countries. In addition to providing basic survival needs and safe spaces for people living in fear, The Salvation Army is providing spiritual nurture that is bringing fresh hope to people of all ages, including children. Eastern Europe Territorial Leaders Colonels Richard and Ann Borrett (on screen) speak to Ukrainian Salvationists during a service. In this interview with Trans World Radio journalist Dave Piper, Colonel Richard Borrett, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Eastern Europe, discusses the growth of The Salvation Army’s ministry amidst the chaos of war. To listen to the interview, click on the arrow below. For more information on this ministry, click here .